The News Courier will publish, free of charge, death notices including the name, age and city of residence of the deceased, date and place of death, and time and place of funeral service and visitation. Family members may express themselves in a eulogy, list survivors and give detailed biographical information about the deceased in a paid obituary. The News Courier will accept these paid items from the family, funeral directors or other individuals. Paid obituaries may include a photo at no extra charge. For information, call Vanessa McKee at The News Courier, 232-2720.



Louise Coffman Harwell

Louise C. Harwell of Jackson, Tenn., died Friday Oct. 27, 2006, at the Whitesburg Gardens Health Care Center in Huntsville. She was 101 years old.

Mrs. Harwell was born in Limestone County to Lawrence David and Georgia Holt Coffman. She grew up in Veto, Elkmont, and Athens. Louise had five brothers, two of who became major league baseball pitchers mainly in the 1930’s – Dick and “Slick” Coffman. The other three brothers became businessmen.

Louise was married very young to Ermon Brown Harwell, a native of neighboring Giles County, Tenn., and the son of a Methodist minister. Brown and Louise raised three sons and spent 55 years together, all in Tennessee until 1976 when Mr. Harwell died. He was a well-known grocer in Jackson, Tenn.

Louise was predeceased, not only by her husband, but also by a son, Cecil C. Harwell, of Tupelo, Miss., also a grocer; by one granddaughter, Cynthia Ann Harwell; by one grandson, Ermon Brown Harwell III; and by two daughters-in-law, Martha M. Harwell and Ann L. “Pat” Harwell, both of Huntsville, Alabama.

Survivors include two sons, Ermon Brown Harwell, Jr. and Robert Foster Harwell, both of Huntsville, Alabama; one daughter-in-law, Jeanette M. Harwell of Tupelo, Mississippi; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the George Smith and Sons Funeral Directors in Jackson, Tenn., on Highway 45 North. Visitation will be at the funeral home between 11a.m. and 1p.m. Monday. The funeral service will be immediately following at 1p.m. at the chapel of the funeral home. It will be conducted by the Rev. Glenn Hill of Aldersgate United Method Church, the church where Mrs. Harwell was a faithful member for many, many years.

Interment will be held at the Highland Memorial Mausoleum following the chapel service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Building Fund in Jackson, Tenn., at 1050 North Parkway, Jackson, Tenn., 38305 or the Hospice Family Care at 3304 Westmill Drive, Huntsville, Ala. 35805.



Nancy Meadows Owen

Funeral for Nancy Meadows Owen, 63, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Jerry Smith officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Owen died Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, at her home.

She was born March 12, 1943, to Ruben Meadows and Annie Bains Meadows in Limestone County. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Ed Meadows.

She is survived by her husband Joe Owen Sr. of Athens; one son John Allen Owen of Athens; one step-son, Joe Owen Jr. of Huntsville; one step-daughter, Michelle Owen Wilson of Athens; three grandchildren, Tyler Allen Owen, Ethan Andrew Owen, Madylin Gracie Wilson; one brother, Ronald Meadows of Athens; one sister, Patsy Chapman of Anderson; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Butch Cornett, Paul Crabtree, Jimmy Chapman, Kenneth Wilburn, Kenneth Meadows and Mel Gurney.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.